Gregory Mall
6 min read
In today’s Crypto for Advisors, Gregory Mall, chief investment officer from Lionsoul Global, writes about bitcoin’s current rally, and how it historically has and could potentially impact altcoins.
Then, Kevin Tam looks at crypto trends, 13-F filings and institutional adoption in Ask an Expert.
Unknown block type "divider", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option
On May 22, bitcoin (BTC) marked a historic moment, reaching a new all-time high, briefly surpassing the levels seen earlier this year. While prices have since consolidated, BTC remains within striking distance of its all-time high — a feat achieved despite lingering macro uncertainties, low trading volumes, and general market skepticism.
Meanwhile, most altcoins remain far from their respective all-time highs. As of early June, Ethereum (ETH) is still about 20% below its November 2021 peak, and Solana (SOL) sits more than 30% below its former highs. This divergence highlights what some market observers are calling the "most hated rally"—a quiet, low-participation surge in bitcoin that caught many off guard.
What Drove the BTC Rally?
Three key factors contributed to the recent BTC breakout:
Central Bank Optimism: Futures markets suggest that rate cuts from the Federal Reserve are likely in the second half of 2025, with the eurozone even further ahead—now on its seventh consecutive rate cut. This easing backdrop has revived risk appetite across assets, particularly among institutional allocators. With tariff fears in the rearview mirror, the overall inflationary outlook has significantly improved in recent weeks.
Institutional Inflows: Spot bitcoin ETFs, approved earlier this year, continue to absorb flows. While daily volumes have tapered from launch-week highs, net inflows have remained consistently positive, particularly from fee-sensitive RIA and private wealth channels. Year to date, cumulative inflows exceed $16 billion, with May recording the largest inflow this year. At the same time, MicroStrategy and other companies have continued to pile corporate treasury assets into bitcoin.
Easing Political Risks: Fading tariff tensions and improving global trade sentiment helped stabilize broader markets, allowing risk assets like bitcoin to resume their upward trend.
Despite these tailwinds, the rally occurred on relatively thin volumes.
BTC Dominance Rising — But History Rhymes
Bitcoin dominance — the percentage of total crypto market cap made up by BTC — has now climbed above 54%, up from about 38% in late 2022. Historically, BTC dominance peaks before altcoins begin to outperform. During the 2017 and 2021 cycles, altcoin rallies lagged the BTC all-time highs by two to six months.
